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they may not all of them perish in your displeasure。〃
And Jove answered； 〃To…morrow morning； Juno； if you choose to do
so； you will see the son of Saturn destroying large numbers of
the Argives； for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he
has roused the son of Peleus when they are fighting in dire
straits at their ships' sterns about the body of Patroclus。 Like
it or no； this is how it is decreed； for aught I care； you may go
to the lowest depths beneath earth and sea； where Iapetus and
Saturn dwell in lone Tartarus with neither ray of light nor
breath of wind to cheer them。 You may go on and on till you get
there； and I shall not care one whit for your displeasure； you
are the greatest vixen living。〃
Juno made him no answer。 The sun's glorious orb now sank into
Oceanus and drew down night over the land。 Sorry indeed were the
Trojans when light failed them； but wele and thrice prayed for
did darkness fall upon the Achaeans。
Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships； and held a
council on the open space near the river； where there was a spot
clear of corpses。 They left their chariots and sat down on the
ground to hear the speech he made them。 He grasped a spear eleven
cubits long； the bronze point of which gleamed in front of it；
while the ring round the spear…head was of gold。 Spear in hand he
spoke。 〃Hear me；〃 said he； 〃Trojans； Dardanians； and allies。 I
deemed but now that I should destroy the ships and all the
Achaeans with them ere I went back to Ilius； but darkness came on
too soon。 It was this alone that saved them and their ships upon
the seashore。 Now； therefore； let us obey the behests of night；
and prepare our suppers。 Take your horses out of their chariots
and give them their feeds of corn； then make speed to bring sheep
and cattle from the city； bring wine also and corn for your
horses and gather much wood； that from dark till dawn we may burn
watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven。 For the Achaeans may
try to fly beyond the sea by night； and they must not embark
scatheless and unmolested； many a man among them must take a dart
with him to nurse at home； hit with spear or arrow as he is
leaping on board his ship； that others may fear to bring war and
weeping upon the Trojans。 Moreover let the heralds tell it about
the city that the growing youths and grey…bearded men are to camp
upon its heaven…built walls。 Let the women each of them light a
great fire in her house； and let watch be safely kept lest the
town be entered by surprise while the host is outside。 See to it；
brave Trojans； as I have said； and let this suffice for the
moment； at daybreak I will instruct you further。 I pray in hope
to Jove and to the gods that we may then drive those fate…sped
hounds from our land； for 'tis the fates that have borne them and
their ships hither。 This night； therefore； let us keep watch； but
with early morning let us put on our armour and rouse fierce war
at the ships of the Achaeans； I shall then know whether brave
Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive me back from the ships to the
wall； or whether I shall myself slay him and carry off his
bloodstained spoils。 To…morrow let him show his mettle； abide my
spear if he dare。 I ween that at break of day； he shall be among
the first to fall and many another of his rades round him。
Would that I were as sure of being immortal and never growing
old； and of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo； as I am
that this day will bring evil to the Argives。〃
Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause。 They took
their sweating steeds from under the yoke； and made them fast
each by his own chariot。 They made haste to bring sheep and
cattle from the city； they brought wine also and corn from their
houses and gathered much wood。 They then offered unblemished
hecatombs to the immortals； and the wind carried the sweet savour
of sacrifice to heavenbut the blessed gods partook not thereof；
for they bitterly hated Ilius with Priam and Priam's people。 Thus
high in hope they sat through the livelong night by the highways
of war； and many a watchfire did they kindle。 As when the stars
shine clear； and the moon is brightthere is not a breath of
air； not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland but it stands out
in the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven；
the stars can all of them be told and the heart of the shepherd
is gladeven thus shone the watchfires of the Trojans before
Ilius midway between the ships and the river Xanthus。 A thousand
camp…fires gleamed upon the plain； and in the glow of each there
sat fifty men； while the horses； champing oats and corn beside
their chariots； waited till dawn should e。
BOOK IX
The Embassy to Achilles。
THUS did the Trojans watch。 But Panic； rade of blood…stained
Rout； had taken fast hold of the Achaeans； and their princes were
all of them in despair。 As when the two winds that blow from
Thracethe north and the northwestspring up of a sudden and
rouse the fury of the mainin a moment the dark waves uprear
their heads and scatter their sea…wrack in all directionseven
thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans。
The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a
council man by man； but not to cry the matter aloud； he made
haste also himself to call them； and they sat sorry at heart in
their assembly。 Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream
or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff； and thus； with many
a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achaeans。 〃My friends；〃 said he；
〃princes and councillors Of the Argives； the hand of heaven has
been laid heavily upon me。 Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise
that I should sack the city of Troy before returning； but he has
played me false； and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to
Argos with the loss of much people。 Such is the will of Jove； who
has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others；
for his power is above all。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I
say and sail back to our own country； for we shall not take
Troy。〃
Thus he spoke； and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat
sorrowful there； but they all held their peace； till at last
Diomed of the loud battle…cry made answer saying； 〃Son of Atreus；
I will chide your folly； as is my right in council。 Be not then
aggrieved that I should do so。 In the first place you attacked me
before all the Danaans and said that I was a coward and no
soldier。 The Argives young and old know that you did so。 But the
son of scheming Saturn endowed you by halves only。 He gave you
honour as the chief ruler over us； but valour； which is the
highest both right and might he did not give you。 Sir； think you
that the sons of the Achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and
cowardly as you say they are？ If your own mind is set upon going
homegothe way is open to you； the many ships that followed
you from Mycene stand ranged upon the seashore； but the rest of
us stay here till we have sacked Troy。 Nay though these too
should turn homeward with their ships； Sthenelus and myself will
still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius； for heaven was
with us when we came。〃
The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed；
and presently Nestor rose to speak。 〃Son of Tydeus；〃 said he； 〃in
war your prowess is beyond question； and in council you excel all
who are of your own years； no one of the Achaeans can make light
of what you say nor gainsay it； but you have not yet e to the
end of the whole matter。 You are still youngyou might be the
youngest of my own childrenstill you have spoken wisely and
have counselled the chief of the Achaeans not without discretion；
nevertheless I am older than you and I will tell you everything；
therefore let no man； not even King Agamemnon； disregard my
saying； for he that foments civil discord is a clanless；
hearthless outlaw。
〃Now； however； let us obey the behests of night and get our
suppers； but let the sentinels every man of them camp by the
trench that is without the wall。 I am giving these instructions
to the young men； when they have been attended to； do you； son of
Atreus； give your orders； for you are the most royal among us
all。